The Annapolis Police Department, in close partnership with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Maryland State Police, announced the indictments that spanned more than seven months and involved undercover police officers making controlled purchases from drug dealers.

In response to an increase in heroin overdoses, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office detectives contacted the Annapolis Police Department in October 2013 after investigators learned drug users were buying heroin in Annapolis.

The Annapolis Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit identified two groups responsible for the majority of heroin distributed in Annapolis. The initiative involved Annapolis detectives working hand in hand with Calvert County sheriff’s detectives to make over 50 controlled buys of heroin, with over 100 grams of heroin seized. The indictments, resulting from these buys, will disrupt these illegal drug trafficking groups in Annapolis.

Those indicted are identified as the following and face several drug-related charges:

Kelly Bowers, 24, of Annapolis

Richard Naylor, 21, of Arnold

Rishard Naylor, 22, of Annapolis. Naylor is currently incarcerated in Calvert County.

Sadie Phillips, 19, of Annapolis

Adrian Williams, 27, of Annapolis. Williams is currently incarcerated with the Department of Corrections.

Four others were indicted and their names will be released in the coming days, police said.

In addition, police said two juveniles were charged in the initiative: A 17-year-old from Annapolis and a 17-year-old from Arnold.

Police said in collateral arrests, a 16-year-old from Arnold and Thomas Penn, 25, of Annapolis, were arrested and face drug-related charges.

The Annapolis Police Department and the Anne Arundel County Police Department began the process of arresting those indicted early Tuesday morning.

The initiative has paralleled the Annapolis Police Department’s increased focus on drug enforcement. In the first five months of 2014, the Annapolis Police Department has made 130 arrests for possession of heroin, cocaine and opiates, compared to 81 arrests during the same months in 2013. While this initiative was ongoing, Annapolis police officers arrested a total of 510 people, charging them with drug-related offenses.

The city experienced six fatal overdoses due to heroin in 2013, and one in 2014. There have also been 22 non-fatal heroin overdoses reported in 2014.

"I am thankful for our law enforcement partnerships and the excellent results of this investigation," Annapolis Police Chief Michael Pristoop said. "Illegal drugs affect our community in many ways. Drug dealers ply their trade in communities leading to violence and other crime increases throughout the city."

Detectives were able to link nine Anne Arundel County overdoses to suspects indicted in this initiative.

"We can say with pretty strong certainty that in one single night in April this year, five overdose victims have purchased drugs from people that we've identified, one specific person we've identified in this initiative," Pristoop said.

Officials said that people are transitioning their drug use from prescription medication to heroin because of cost, where an oxycodone pill costs $85, a hit of heroin costs $13.

"A lot of folks are making the transition from prescription meds to heroin because it's a similar high for a lot less money," Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman said.

"This multi-agency drug initiative is responsible for getting heroin off the street, dealers behind bars, and creating a safer place for all Annapolis residents," Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides said. "I applaud the law enforcement agencies and departments involved for their diligence in fighting crime in our city."

Police said search warrants were issued on the following locations:

300 block of Ternwing Drive, Arnold

Unit block of Bens Drive, Annapolis

700 block of Newtowne Drive, Annapolis

Police said they also seized a 2006 Chrysler 300 from the 300 block of Ternwing Drive.

The Annapolis Police Department urges citizens to report drug activity. Citizens can call 410-268-4141 to report drug activity when they see it. Anonymous tips can be called into 410-280-CLUE (2583).